Council elections Part 1: IS THE ORRONG GROUP STANDING A CANDIDATE?

THE ANSWER IS “NO” and AND THE ORRONG GROUP IS NOT ENDORSING ANY CANDIDATE AT THIS STAGE.

IMPORTANT: We have been advised that a candidate for the South Ward and / or his supporters may be indicating that he is an Orrong Group-endorsed candidate. This is totally incorrect, so ask questions if some one is passing themselves off as a OG-endorsed candidate.

In the meantime phone the candidates and investigate their allegiances, experience and knowledge of planning policies and pin them down to stating where they stand on residential developments in our city. And come to the Community Forum on 17 October.

We need to say that some councillors seeking re-election have supported the aims of the Orrong Group and voted as we wished and we may say more about this later.

This development means traffic gridlock, overflowing train stations and tram stops, no more on-street car parking, a blighted skyline and less privacy for current residents. It will also impinge on adjoining public land. It defies the lowrise local residential style.

This development will set a precedent for further development.

This is a rare opportunity for Stonnington to increase open space, develop a school or a stellar medium density residential development. We do not need another Docklands.

Already we know that Toorak Station is within developers' sites. How long before Hawksburn and Armadale are redeveloped?

Stonnington Council - after much campaigning - refused the permit but developer Lend Lease successfully overturned this decision at VCAT. This VCAT decision is in turn being appealed in the Supreme Court in April 2013.

Our opponent is smart, moneyed, experienced and well connected. We won't win this without your help.

Lend Lease has 'consulted' but never compromised. They entirely underestimated our ability to fight their plan.

Reading this is just the beginning - we need you to work with us to fight the towers.